Land area: 176,220 Km2
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Capital: Montevideo
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Electoral authority: The Electoral
Council administers national elections.
Freedom House rating:
Political Rights 1, Civil Liberties 1
Political history
Uruguay was brought under nominal Portuguese control in the early 17th century, but
was occupied by the Spanish in 1726 and became part of the viceroyalty of La Plata, in effect
as a colony of Buenos Aires. When the authorities in Buenos Aires declared their
autonomy in 1808, Uruguay at first remained loyal to Spain, but became independent
in 1810. It was fought over by Argentina and Brazil until 1828, when after British
mediation it became the independent republic of Uruguay.
Through most of the 19th century Uruguay was torn by bitter rivalry between the
liberal Red Party and the conservative White Party (the Colorados and the Blancos), which descended at times into civil war and
led to intevention by Argentina and Brazil. In 1872 the two parties agreed to a peace
treaty, and Uruguay enjoyed stability and progress under the Colorado leader José
Batlle y Ordóñez.
After Batlle's death in 1929 the Blancos staged a coup and Uruguay was a
dictatorship until 1938, when the Colorados regained power and restored constitutional
government. The Blancos regained office in 1958, and political instability increased
through the 1960s, aggravated by economic difficulties. The emergence of the communist
guerilla movement, the Tupamaros, led to the imposition of martial law by President
Juan María Bordaberry in 1972.
In 1976 the army took power and retained it until 1985,
when democractic government was again restored. Since then Uruguay has become of the most
stable and liberal states in Latin America. Politics continues to be dominated by the
Colorados, now a moderately liberal
party led by President Jorge Luis Batlle Ibáñez, a descendant of José
Batlle. The Blancos (officially the
National Party) have declined into a minor
party of the right. The main opposition to the Colorados now comes from the left-wing
Progressive Encounter coalition, which includes the
Socialist Party of Uruguay, the centrist
Uruguay Assembly and
Christian-Democratic Party, and the extreme left Movement for Popular Participation and
the Communist Party of Uruguay.
Through most of the 19th century Uruguay was torn by bitter rivalry between the liberal Red Party and the conservative White Party (the Colorados and the Blancos), which descended at times into civil war and led to intevention by Argentina and Brazil. In 1872 the two parties agreed to a peace treaty, and Uruguay enjoyed stability and progress under the Colorado leader José Batlle y Ordóñez.
After Batlle's death in 1929 the Blancos staged a coup and Uruguay was a dictatorship until 1938, when the Colorados regained power and restored constitutional government. The Blancos regained office in 1958, and political instability increased through the 1960s, aggravated by economic difficulties. The emergence of the communist guerilla movement, the Tupamaros, led to the imposition of martial law by President Juan María Bordaberry in 1972.
In 1976 the army took power and retained it until 1985, when democractic government was again restored. Since then Uruguay has become of the most stable and liberal states in Latin America. Politics continues to be dominated by the Colorados, now a moderately liberal party led by President Jorge Luis Batlle Ibáñez, a descendant of José Batlle. The Blancos (officially the National Party) have declined into a minor party of the right. The main opposition to the Colorados now comes from the left-wing Progressive Encounter coalition, which includes the Socialist Party of Uruguay, the centrist Uruguay Assembly and Christian-Democratic Party, and the extreme left Movement for Popular Participation and the Communist Party of Uruguay.